Sony A7R III to feature new sensor with 70 to 80 megapixels

Sony is rumored to be already working on a successor to the A7R II mirrorless camera, which will be called A7R III and which will feature an image sensor with 70 to 80 megapixels.

The A7R II was announced by Sony in June 2015. The mirrorless camera has been introduced officially as the first camera with a backlit full-frame sensor.

It is considered one of the best shooters on the market, thanks to its sensor, which has 42.4 megapixels without an anti-aliasing filter, but with an in-body 5-axis image stabilization technology.

The sensor jumped from 36.4 megapixels to 42.4-megapixels, but it seems like the next-generation will get an even more significant bump in megapixels. Sources are reporting that the upcoming Sony A7R III will feature a sensor with up to 80 megapixels.

Sony A7R III rumored to feature a 70 to 80-megapixel image sensor

The A7R is one of the original Alpha-series full-frame mirrorless camera from Sony. It was unveiled during the summer of 2013, while its place has been taken by a bigger-megapixel A7R II in the summer of 2015. As a result, most people are expecting the next unit to show up in 2017, also sometime in the summer.

The sensor of the Sony A7R II has 42.4 megapixels. The camera’s replacement is expected to have somewhere between 70 to 80 megapixels.

When the Sony A7R III becomes official, the mirrorless camera will come packed with a brand new image sensor. A source is claiming that the new sensor will have somewhere between 70 to 80 megapixels.

Many existing lenses have been tested and they are said to be capable of supporting 60-megapixel or higher stills and 6K or higher videos. As a result, photographers will be able to capture photos and movies at amazing quality with this future camera and FE-mount optics that are already available on the market. One of them is the newly-introduced Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM.

Enhanced image stabilization technology will also make its way into the A7R III

As image quality will not be a problem for the current line-up, it appears that Sony will also focus on other features. The major bump in megapixels will be joined by a significantly improved image stabilization system.

Such technology will be added into the Sony A7R III, albeit it is unclear whether it will be a conventional system or not. The PlayStation maker has accustomed its digital imaging fans with innovative technologies and the image stabilization system might be on this list.

Whatever happens, the in-body IS technology will definitely be better than the one found in the A7R II. The source claims that the details come from the company’s managers in Japan, but you will need to take it with a pinch of salt. There is a lot of time until A7R III’s official announcement, so do not get your hopes too high just yet.